Hirohito

This biography of the former Emperor of Japan describes his crucial role as cultural, religious and social arbiter of a nation of 120 million people. It also examines the rise and fall of Japan during World War II and the manner in which Hirohito attempted to prove his own mortality, despite the traditional reverence of the Japanese people. The author has drawn on original and previously unpublished material to throw light on the way Hirohito ended World War II against the wishes of his generals, how he tried to introduce a constitutional monarchy using Britain as an example, and the delicate nature of his relationship with the USA, who continuously sought to revive his militaristic role.